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Four-Time Reigning World Champ Seeks Third Straight Mile-High Nationals Win
DENVER, Colo. – It’s good to be king, especially King of the Mountain, the lofty position four-time reigning Top Fuel World Champion Steve Torrence will occupy this week when drag racing’s touring pros begin the grind of the Western Swing with a stop at 5,600-foot high Bandimere Speedway.
Four-time reigning Top Fuel world champion Steve Torrence executes a burnout in his Capco Contractors dragster.
This weekend at Denver, he will try to win the Mile-High Nationals for a third consecutive time.
Four-time reigning World Champion Steve Torrence, left, signs autographs with fellow Team Toyota drivers including, to his right,
Alexis DeJoria, J.R. Todd, Justin Ashley and Antron Brown.
This week, Torrence will drive his Capco Contractors entry in pursuit of a third straight Top Fuel title in the Mile-High Nationals at Denver.
Photos by Mark Rebilas
“That (his 330.31 mph track record) was with the old set-up,” Torrence said, referencing the manner in which crew chiefs Richard Hogan and Bobby Lagana Jr. prepared his Capco Contractors dragster back in 2019, “but I’ll take these Capco Boys whether we’re racing at sea level, on a mountain or a dirt road.”
Transitioning to a new engine-and-clutch combination designed to keep him competitive at the elevated performance levels established by rivals Mike Salinas and Brittany Force, Torrence thus far has been victimized by his hot rod’s uncharacteristic inconsistency.
“When you have an expectation of performance and it’s not there week-in and week-out, it can be a little frustrating, maybe (even) a little disheartening,” said the man who next week will attend the 2022 ESPY Awards gala in Los Angeles as one of the nominees for Best Driver along with NASCAR champion Kyle Larsen, Formula 1 Champion Max Verstappen and Indy Car Champion Alex Palou.
“You have to remind yourself that it’s for the greater good. Everyone out here is constantly changing; they’re (always) trying to do something more,” he emphasized. “We had it figured out for so long that we didn’t change, but (ultimately) you have to change or get left behind.”
Despite a winless streak that has reached 10 events, the 39-year-old Texan will start this week from third place in Camping World points in an ongoing bid to join John Force, Bob Glidden and Tony Schumacher as the only pro drivers to have won as many as five consecutive NHRA championships.
“We’re close, real close,” the 51-time tour winner said of his team’s progress, “but it’s just hard to win out here. Toughest I’ve ever seen it. I think with Tony (Schumacher) coming back this year, a lot of people thought it was just going to be me and him. I never thought that.
“Look what Mike Salinas has done with that team,” he said. “(Top Fuel success) used to be about building your own parts and pieces. We changed the model by focusing more on what you do with the parts that are available off the shelf.”
It’s a philosophy that’s been successfully adopted by a host of new teams including those of Salinas, Josh Hart and Justin Ashley.
When nitro qualifying begins at 5:30 p.m., Texas time, Friday, Torrence will trail Salinas by 109 points and Force by 97. Qualifying continues at 9 p.m., Texas time, Friday and concludes Saturday with runs at 4:30 and 8:30 p.m., Texas time. Eliminations begin at 12 noon, Texas time, on Sunday.
Television coverage of the first race of the Western Swing includes Texas time qualifying highlights at 9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Sunday on FS1 and Sunday race coverage from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m., Texas time, on the FOX broadcast network. All TV times subject to change.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships. Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 43 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, more than a quarter of the company’s 2021 North American sales were electrified.
Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
About Capco Contractors Inc.:
Capco Contractors, Inc. is a family owned-and-operated construction company specializing in the oil and gas industries. A proud American company based in Texas with clients around the world, Capco was founded in 1995 by Billy Torrence and initially operated from a small office and one job-site trailer with a staff of only 12 employees. From those humble beginnings, Capco Contactors, Inc. has developed into a full-service pipeline company, capable of all aspects of pipeline work including site work, creation of compressor stations, mainline pipeline construction and pipeline integrity projects. It employs more than 200 people with main offices in Henderson, Texas.
